Sharing a prepared route on ViaMichelin with someone close does not work at all like real-time location sharing on Google Maps or WhatsApp. The confusion between these two mechanisms regularly comes up in help forums, leading to disappointed expectations. ViaMichelin generates a link to a calculated route (departure, arrival, tolls, estimated cost), but this link does not transmit the user’s GPS position continuously.
ViaMichelin Route Link and GPS Position Sharing: Two Different Logics
On ViaMichelin, the sharing function consists of copying the URL of an already calculated route and sending it via messaging, email, or social media. The recipient then opens a static map with the route, waypoints, toll options, and an estimated travel time.
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This link does not track your movements live. Your contact sees the planned route, not your progress on the road. If you deviate, fall behind, or take a break, nothing updates on the recipient’s side. This technical limitation clearly distinguishes ViaMichelin from the real-time tracking features offered by Google Maps or some messaging apps.
To send your Michelin location to someone useful, you need to combine two tools: ViaMichelin for the route and cost information, and then a third-party app for live tracking if the situation requires it.
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Michelin Route Sharing: What the Link Actually Contains
The link generated by ViaMichelin contains several pieces of data that remain accessible to anyone who receives it. Here’s what your recipient can read:
- The starting point and the destination, with the coordinates or addresses entered during the calculation
- The recommended route, possible alternatives, and toll sections with their estimated costs
- The theoretical travel duration, calculated based on traffic conditions at the time the link was generated
- The intermediate waypoints if you added any while preparing the route
This information is fixed. The link reflects the state of the calculation at the time you created it, not the road conditions at the time your contact views it. A traffic jam that occurred in the meantime will not appear.
This rigidity has an advantage: the link remains valid even without an active internet connection on the sender’s side. Your contact can view it at any time, even after your arrival, to find the same route.
Real-Time Tracking: Why ViaMichelin Does Not Offer It Natively
Real-time position tracking requires continuous transmission of the GPS coordinates from the device to a server, and then to the recipient’s terminal. Google Maps manages this entire chain thanks to its permanent geolocation infrastructure. WhatsApp and Messenger offer similar functions, limited in time (from a few minutes to several hours depending on the settings).
ViaMichelin remains primarily a route calculator and mapping service. Its technical architecture is designed to prepare routes, compare costs, and display maps, not to maintain a bidirectional geolocation flow between two users. Adding this layer would require a significant redesign of the application, with implications for personal data collection and processing policies.
The CNIL also reminds us that movement data reveals habits, acquaintances, and sometimes sensitive information. Any application that would activate real-time tracking would need to manage consent, retention duration, and sharing scope with particular rigor.
Special Case: Michelin Truckfly and MyConnectedFleet
Within the Michelin ecosystem, two other applications deserve mention. Truckfly, Michelin’s truck GPS, integrates community tracking of road conditions, but without an individual position-sharing function to a contact. The app serves truck drivers for specific truck navigation and access to rest areas.
MyConnectedFleet, Michelin’s fleet management platform, allows tracking of professional vehicles with an AI-based assistant. This service targets fleet managers, not individuals looking to reassure a family member.
Concrete Method to Combine Michelin Route and Live Location
Since ViaMichelin does not manage real-time tracking, the most effective solution combines two distinct actions. Here’s how to proceed:
- Prepare your route on ViaMichelin (web or app), add your waypoints, check the tolls and total cost, then copy the sharing link
- Send this link to your contact via messaging so they have the planned route, estimated duration, and details of road expenses
- Simultaneously activate real-time location sharing via Google Maps, WhatsApp, or Messenger, choosing a duration suitable for your trip
Your contact then has two complementary pieces of information: the detailed route plan (thanks to Michelin) and your current position on that route (thanks to the geolocation app). This combination covers what neither tool does alone.
Shared Location Data: What Each Service Transmits
The choice of sharing tool determines the data your recipient can access. On Google Maps, location sharing reveals your name, profile picture, the recent position of your device, battery level, and charging status. The recipient must have a Gmail account.
On WhatsApp or Messenger, location sharing is limited to your GPS coordinates for the chosen duration. No battery data or third-party account identifiers are transmitted. However, the accuracy depends on the GPS signal and mobile network at the time of sharing.
ViaMichelin, for its part, does not transmit any personal data via its route link. The recipient sees an anonymous route, with no information about the identity or position of the sender. This neutrality can be an asset when wanting to share a route without exposing one’s location continuously.
Location sharing remains a decision that involves sensitive personal data. Choosing the right tool according to the context (business trip, night out, family travel) avoids overexposing one’s movements while maintaining a useful connection with loved ones.